Composite heat-exchange fin



Muth 1.5,'1949. n. GQ vANpERwElL 2,464,735 v COIPOSITB HEAT EXCHANGE FI I 4 Sheets-$11661: 1.

Filed July '7., 1944 /H //////////,Y;///////////hV///////////W7///////////////////// 4 oimvnd G Vwrd'erw eil March l5, l949- R. G. vANDERwl-:IL

co'nPosITE HEAT Exrumen FIN n .m u

n u W. mm m mm n w m u M W cava/cw /coAPz/e) Filed July 7, 1944 n/c'o/Vawr/wrr Patented Mar.

UNITED 'y STATES coMrosiriiEArgExcnANGE FIN Raimund G. Vanderweil, Woodbury, Conn., assignor to Chase Brass & Copper Co. Incorpo- `rated, Waterbury, Conmkacgrporation Application Jg, 1944, 'serial -Nnfaiassz "er claims. (ci. asi-261) The present invention relates to improvements in vheat-exchange fins, and relates more particulariy to composite heat-exchange nus, i. e., heatexchange fins composed of a plurality of sheet materials having different physical characteristics. The heat-exchange fins of the present invention are especially well suited for use ineffecting the cooling of the cylinders or other parts of air-cooled internal-combustion airplane' engines. Thel objects of the present invention are generally similar in character to, though different in mode of attainment from, the objects s'et forth in my co-pending application filed July 7, 1944 and bearing Ser. No. 543,881, now Patent No; 2,426,536, issued August 26, 1947.

One of the objects of the vpresent invention is to provide a superior composite heat-exchange fin characterized by a combination vof high strength'and rapid and eie'ctive heat-conduction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an eillcient composite heat-exchange n combining desirable thinness with sumcient strength to withstand stresses imposed by highvelocity air streams or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superior composite heatexchange fin having unitary baille-means'whereby air or the like may be deflected in such manner as to efi'ectively utilize a maximum of the surface area of the fin.

v- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a superior and highly-effective com- Y posite heat-exchange n which will be free of substantial heat-warpage. f

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a superior composite heat-exchange .1 ngcombinin'g other characteristics 'herein rel -40 of ring-like form and is skeletonized and inferred to with moderate cost for manufacture.

Other objects will appear to those skilled in art from the present disclosure,

A In the accompanying drawings, in which cer- Y tain modes of carrying out the present invention are. shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 isya view in sideelevation of the cylinder -fsfcanfairecooiedaircraft engine equipped with compositec-heat-exchange ns constructed in -accordance withxhe present invention Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional view-on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken onthe' line I-l ofFi8.2; l Y

the,

Fig. 5 is a top-or plan view of one of the supporting-plates, detached;

Fig. 6 is a similar view plates, detached; l

Fig.A 'l is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the compositeflnshown in the preceding figure/sff j. Fig. 8 :ls/asimilar view of the supporting-plate; Fig. aview of the same generalv character 10 as Figs. 7 and 8 but showing a portion of the inlay-plate, detached:

Fig. 10 is a broken sectional view of the same general nature as Fig. 3 but showing another form of compositeheat-exchange iin embodying the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the composite heat-exchange iin shown in Fig. 10:

of one of the inlay- Fig. 12 is an underside view of va fragment 4of still another form of composite heat-exchange iin. embodying the present invention;

Fig. lisabroken sectional view taken on the -,Qnne-la-la offrir. 12:

The structure of Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive The particular composite heat-exchange. iin shown in the figures yjust referred to includes what vmight be aptly termed a supporting-plate or member generally designated by the reference character I5 and an inlay-plate or -member generally designated by the reference charac- -ter I6.

The supporting-plate I5 above referred to is cludes,` in .the instance shown, an outerv margin- 'portion l1 and-an inner margin-portion I8 integrally interconnected by a plurality of web-like bridging-portions or arms I9 which latter, Yin

' Aally though not necessarily so. The o'uter margin-portion IT, the inner margin-portion I8 and the bridging-portions I9 together define a plurality of perforations v2|) extending through the supporting-plate from face to face and adapted, as will hereinafter appear, for the reception of portionsV of the aforesaidinlay-plate I6. I The material at the inner edge of the inner 'margin`portion I8 of the supporting-plate I5 is turned or bent so as to extend substantially perthe instance shown,- extend substantially radi-v pendicularly with respect to the plane of the said plate to provide a stiifening-ange 2|. Portions of the outer perimeter of the outer marginportion |'l are bent in a direction opposite to the direction of the stiifening-ange 2| to provide a pair of substantially-perpendicular bailleflanges 22-22, each of which extends about onequarter-way around the outer perimeter of the supporting-plate |5 and each of which has an end 23 turned outwardly away from the supporting-plate, as is indicated in Figs. 2 and 5.

'I'he aforesaid supporting-plate I5 may be formed of any suitable sheet material having the characteristics at elevated temperatures of relatively-high modulus of elasticity, high tensile strength (and hence flexural strength) combined with relatively-low heat-conductivity as compared to the material of which the aforesaid inlay-plate I6 or its equivalent is formed. Among the many sheet materials suitable for producing the supporting-plate may be mentioned high-carbon steel (about .95% 0.), silicon bronze, nickel and nickel alloys, stainless steel etc.

The sheet material from which the inlay-plate I8 or its equivalent may be formed is characterized when at elevated temperatures, by having a relatively-low modulus of elasticity and a relatively-high heat-conductivity as compared to the material of which the aforesaid supporting-plate |5 is formed. Suitable materials for the said inlay-plate are numerous, among which may be mentioned copper, silver and aluminum.

The inlay-plate I8, in the instance shown, includes an inner margin-portion 24 having an integral and substantially-perpendicular stiifeningflange or contact-flange 25. Extending outwardly from the margin-portion 24 just referred to, is an annular series of inlay-panels or leaves 25 each of which is spaced and shaped to closely conform to and to fit into the perforations in the supporting-plate 5.

When the inlay-plate I5 is assembled with the supporting-plate I5, as is particularly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and '7, the stiffening-fiange 25 of the said inlay-plate extends in a direction opposite to the direction in which the stiiening-ange 2| of the supporting-plate I5 extends. Furthermore, the stiii'ening-ilange 25 is positioned inwardly with respect to the stiiening-ange 2| so that the outer face of the stiiTening-ilange of one composite iin is overlapped by the stifening-iiange 2| of the next adjacent composite n, as is especially well shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The inner margin-portion 24 of the inlay-plate I5 engages with the adiacent face of the inner margin-portion |8 of the supporting-plate I5.

Throughout the major portion of their extent, each of the inlay-panels 26 of the inlay-plate I8 are flush with the surrounding portions of the supporting-plate I5. The contacting edges of the inlay-panels 26 and the supporting-plate l5 may be anchored together in any suitable manner such. for instance, as by silver solder, welding. brazing or, in some instances where the temperatures encountered are not unduly high, by a synthetic resin or the like. The said edgeportions may also be secured together by lmechanical means such, for instance, as is shown in Figs. 12 to 1 5 inclusive and as will be more fully hereinafter described. When a group of composite heat-exchange ns such as have been above described are assembled onto an engine cylinder 21 or the like, the baille-ilanges 22 thereof will nest together, if desired, in a manner such as is shown in Fig. 4. The stiflening-ilanges 25 will serve to determine the spacings between adjacent fins. i

It will be noted by reference to Figs. 3 and 4, in particular, that in each of the instances shown, an inner portion of the inlay-plate I5 is in direct heat-exchange engagement with the object from which or to which heat is to be transferred such, for instance, as the cylinder 21. By this arrangement, in instances where heat is to be dissipated from an object such as a cylinder 21, the inlay-plate I8 will rapidly transfer such heat from its inner margin-portion to the inlay-panels or leaves 26 for dissipation into the air or other fluid stream flowing between the various fins. In instances where it is desired to employ integral baille-flanges such as 22, such bale-iianges will serve to deflect air or other fluid around the rear side of the cylinder 21 or its equivalent when the said uid is flowing in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 2. The cooling iluid, under these conditions, will emerge at the rear of the structure through the passage formed between the opposed but laterally spaced-apart ends 23 of lsuch baille-flanges.

Each composite heat-exchange n of the present invention may be provided after assembly with an allover coating or plating of corrosion-resistant material, preferably nickel though silver, tin, chrome and other materials may be used which resist deep corrosion and scaling at elevated temperatures.

The structure of Figs. 10 and 11 The composite heat-exchange ilns illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, are in substance the same as the composite heat-exchange fins illustrated in the preceding figures and the parts bear like reference characters. 'Ihe diierences are those of ,40 form, especially with respect to the fact that the stiiiening-flange 2| of the supporting-plate l5 extends in the same direction' as the contactor stiifening-iiange 25 of the inlay-plate I6 and bears against the outer face of the latter.

Thus when a series of heat-exchange fins of Athe character just referred to are assembled onto a' structure such as the engine-cylinder 21 (Fig. 10), the stiiening-anges 25 of the highly-conductive inlay-plates I5 engage directly with the surface of the said engine-cylinder.

The structure o! Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive 'grally interconnected by a plurality of web-like bridging-portions or arms 3|.

The outer margin-portion 29, the inner margin-portion 30 and the bridging-portions 3| together define a plurality of perforations 32-extending through the supporting-plate from face to face. l

The inner edge of the outer margin-portion 29 and the respective opposite side-edges of the bridging-portions 3| of the aforesaid supporting-plate 28 are formed with a plurality of anchar-prongs 33 alternately extending in engagement with the opposite .faces of the inlay-panels 34 of an inlay-plate generally designated by the reference character 35, and corresponding basically to the inlay-plate' I5;

Preferably, and as illustrated in Figs. 14 and .5 l5. alternate ones of the anchor-prongs 33 are initially bent into near-perpendicularity with respect to the plane of the supporting-plate 28 to permit the inlay-panels 34 of the inlay-plate 35 to be positioned on top of the remaining alternate anchor-prongs (as viewed in the drawings). dAfter the parts have been assembled, the alternate upstanding anchor-prongs 3l may be forcibly bent downwardly upon the upper surface of The invention may be carried out in other speciilc waysthan those herein set forth without departing lfrom the spirit and essential characteristics-'of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, andl all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. A thin sheet-like composite heat-exchange iin for a heat-radiating body, the said iin comprising ai skeletonized supporting-plate formed of sheet metal of relatively-high strength and relatively-low heat-conductivity.as compared to the sheet metal of the hereinafter-mentioned' inlay-plate means, the said skeletonizedA supporting-plate having a plurality of segregated perforations extending therethrough from face to face; and inlay-plate means comprising segregated elements held in segregated relationship by a common contact-member arranged to engage said heat-'radiating body thereby to conduct heat therefrom to said segregated elements, the said segregated elements being arranged to it into the respective segregated perforations of said skeletonized supporting-plate with opposite sides of each segregated element exposed to the air and its edges substantially flush with and anchored to the peripheral edges of Aits respective segregated perforation, the said inlay-plate means being formed of sheet metal of relativelylow strength and relatively-high heat-conductivity as compared to the aforesaid supportingplate.

2. A thin sheet-like composite heat-exchange iin for a heat-radiating body, the said iin com` y prising a skeletonized supporting-plate formed of sheet metal of relatively-high strength/and relatively-low heat-conductivity as compared to vthe sheet metal of the hereinafter-mentioned inlay-plate means, the said skeletonized supporting-plate having a plurality of segregated perforations extending therethrough from face to face; and inlayplate means comprising segregated elements heldin segregated relationship by a common contact-member constituting an integral extension of each segregated element arranged to engage said. heat-radiating body thereby to conduct heat therefrom to said seg-` regated elements, the said segregated elements being arranged to nt into the respective segregated perforations of said skeletonized supportins-'Plate with opposite sides -of a each segregated element exposed to the air and its edges substantially flush with and anchored to the peripheral edges of its respective segregated perforation. the said inlay-plate means being formed of sheet metal of relatively-low strength -and relatively-high heat-conductivity as compared to the aforesaid supporting-plate.

3. A thin sheet-like composite heat-exchange 6 iin for a heat-radiating body, the said fin comprising a skeletonized supporting-plate having an inner margin-portion, an outer margin-portion, and a plurality of web-like bridge-portions integrally connecting the two said margin-por- 10' tions and together therewith defining a plurality of segregatedperforations extending from face to face through the said supporting-plate, the said skeletonized supporting-plate being formed of sheet metal of relatively-high strength and relatively-low .heat-conductivity as compared to the sheet metal of the hereinafter-mentioned inlay-plate means; and inlay-plate means comprising segregated elements held in segregated relationship by a common vcontact-member constituting an integral extension of each segregated element arranged to interlock with the inner margin-portion of said skeletonized supporting-plate and to engage said heat-radiating body thereby to conduct heat therefrom to said segregated elements, said segregated elements being arranged to fit into the respective segregated perforations of said skeletonized supporting-plate with'opposite sides of each segregated element exposed to the air and its edgesl substantially flush with and anchored to the peripheral edges vof its respective segregated perforation, the said inlay-plate meansbeing formedof sheet' metal of-relative1ylow strength and relatively-high heat-conductivity vas compared to the aforesaid supporting-plate.

4,' I n a nned heat-radiating body, a, plurality o f thin sheet-like composite heat-exchangel fins arranged in juxtaposition on said heat-radiating body, each iin comprising -a skeleton- 40 ized supporting-plate having an inner marginportion providedwith a substantially-perpendicular stiifening-fiange, an outer margin-portion. and a plurality of web-like bridge-portions integrally connecting the two said margin-portions and together therewith defining a plurality of segregated perforations extending from face to face through the said supporting-plate, the said skeletonized supporting-plate being formed of sheet metal of relatively-high strength and relatively-lowv heat-'conductivity as compared to the sheet metal of the hereinafter-mentioned inlay-plate means; and inlay-plate means comprising segregated elements held in segregated relationship by a common contact-member constituting an integral flange lformed on the inner margins of said segregated elements substantially perpendicular thereto and arranged to engage said heat-radiating body thereby to conduct heat therefrom to said segregated elements, the said integral-flange of each inlay- 'plate extending in a direction opposite to that of the stiffening-fiange of its'respe'ctivesupporting-plate and arranged to be engagedY by the P stiifenling-fiange yof an adjacent composite n on sal'd radiating-body to form a footing for the supporting-plate of said adjacent composite fin, said segregated elements being arranged tofit into* the respective segregated perforations of said skeletonized supporting-plate with oppo-- atively-low strength and relatively-high heatconductivity as compared to the aforesaid supporting-plate.

5. A thin sheet-like composite heat-exchange iin for a heat-radiating body, the said iin comprising a skeletonized supporting-plate having an inner margin-portion provided with a :substantially-perpendicular stiiening-ilange, an outer margin-portion, and a plurality of web-like bridge-portions integrally connecting the two said margin-portions and together therewith dening a plurality of segregated perforations extending from face to face through the said supporting-plate, the said skeletonized supportingplate being formed of sheet metal of relativelyhigh strength and relatively--low heat-conductivity as compared to the sheet metal of the hereinafter-mentioned inlay-plate means; and inlayplate means comprising segregated elements held in segregated relationship by a common contactmember constituting an integral ange formed on the inner margins of said segregated elements substantially perpendicular theretoand extending in the direction of said stiffening-flange so as to nest therewith and provide a footing for the stiifening-fiange of said supporting-plate, said integral ange being arranged also to engage said heat-radiating body thereby to conduct heat therefrom to said segregated elements, said segregated elements being arranged to iit into the respective segregated perforations of said skeletonized supporting-plate with opposite sides of each segregated element exposed to the air and its edges substantially iiush with and anchored to the peripheral edges of its respective segregated perforation, the said inlay-plate means being formed of sheet metal of relatively-low strength and relatively-high heat-conductivity as compared to the aforesaid supporting-plate.

6. A thin sheet-like composite heat-exchange iin for a heat-radiating body, the said fin comprising a skeletonized supporting-plate formed of ferrous sheet metal of relatively-high strength and relatively-low heat-conductivity as compared to the non-ferrous sheet metal of the hereinaftermentioned inlay-plate means, the said skeletonized supporting-plate having a plurality of segregated perforations extending therethrough from face to face; ,and inlay-plate means comprising segregated elements held in segregated relationship by a common contact-member arranged to engage said heat-radiating body thereby to conduct heat therefrom to said segregated elements, the said segregated elements being arranged to fit into the respective segregated perforations of said skeletonized supporting-plate with opposite sides of each segregated element exposed to the air and its edges substantially flush with and anchored to the peripheral edges of its respective segregated perforation, the said inlay-plate means being formed of non-ferrous sheet metal of relatively-low strength and rela.- tively-high heat-conductivity as compared to the aforesaid ferrous metal supporting-plate.

7. A thin sheet-like composite heat-exchange fin for a heat-radiating body, the said fin comprising a skeletonized supporting-plate formed of sheet steel of relatively-high strength and re1- atively-low heat-conductivity as compared to the copper-base sheet metal of the hereinafter-mentioned inlay-plate means, the said skeletonized supporting-plate having a plurality of segregated perforations extending therethrough from face to face; and inlay-plate means comprising segregated eements held in segregated relationship by a common contact-member arranged to engage said heat-radiating body thereby to conduct heat therefrom to said segregated elements, the said segregated elements being arranged to it into the respective segregated perforations of said skeletonized supporting-plate with opposite sides of each segregated element exposed to the air and its edges substantially flush with and anchored to the peripheral edges of its respective segregated perforation, the said inlay-plate means being formed of a copper-base sheet metal of relatively-low strength and relatively-high heatconductivity as compared to the aforesaid sheet steel supporting-plate.

RAIMUND G. VANDERWEIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wall Dec. 24, 1940 

